Did he attack Bael out of desperation?
“You’re using that against him to get him to bend the knee.” I push myself up, hugging the towel around myself.
Aurelius sprawls back on the velvet seat, as if it’s a throne. “And then I’ll use it to capture him.”
“Doesn’t sound honorable.”
Aurelius smiles, sharply. “What gave you the idea that I’m honorable?”
He stands up, and I am bathed in his shadow; his golden hair falls over his amber eyes.
“This is the prophecy coming true,” I say, softly. “Golden fated mates, an Omega and her Alpha Kings, destined to bleed.”
Aurelius blanches. “It isn’t… I mean… Do you know how hard I tried not to bond? To avoid that prophecy? What I endured to suppress my emotions? Needs? I didn’t… It’s Lan who will bleed. I’ve thought this through. He’s one of the Golden fated mates. If we do this, then the rest of you are free of the prophecy. We can bond; he can bleed.”
“Are you fucking with me? You’re doing this to protect us from the prophecy...?”
“If I sacrifice Lan, then I will know that my fae King and wolf Queen are safe.” Aurelius gives a dangerous grin. “And it will be my pleasure to make the vampire bleed.”
“You do understand how much groveling you’ll need to do with Daire for him to forgive you for this scheme?”
“A dragon doesn’t grovel, especially to a fae.”
I pat Aurelius on the cheek. “Then learn a new skill.”
“Ehm, how about a gift? What does he like? Flame cakes? Chestnuts?”
“How about returning his crown? You stole Daire’s beautiful bronze and emerald crown of feathers. Actions are better than empty words.”
“Oh, that’s all,” Aurelius says, dryly, “give a rebel and bandit back a kingdom that never belonged to him.”
“Why does it belong to you?”
“Because I defeated it, just like I did Daire.” Aurelius takes a deep breath. “I will consider it. Do you remember what you said to me, when I first brought you into my camp?”
“That I am a wild wolf, and if you try to leash me, I will bite off your fucking hand.”
Aurelius chuckles, deep and rumbling. “I’d forgotten how fierce you were to challenge me even from the start. I meant, you said?—”
“That you were pretty. As pretty as Daire.”
Aurelius’ flush deepens. “You also told me tofuck off,and I warned you tohide your fangs at court. It appears that neither of us are any good at listening. I’m talking about when I asked you whether you would take it, if I could offer you a way to take revenge on the vampires? Against the Shadow Vampire King himself? Do you remember what you said?”
I freeze.
Fuck, yeah.
That’s what I replied.
Without hesitation or thought.
But things are different now.
Right?
I avoid his gaze. “You’re not doing this for me.”
“I’m doing this for all of us.” Aurelius straightens his shoulders. “Once that irritating mosquito Lan is swatted, I can finally concentrate on taking down Maximinus and the Council. They have already promised?—”
